Now that the war's over

[stephrogers]

Steph had taken to hanging out at Howard's workshop these days. Usually with her sketchbook or with whatever assignments her class had saddled her with that week. Really, she just liked idly sketching him in graphite, almost feeling like a schoolgirl with a crush again. But no. Howard was the brilliant mechanical engineer she knew during those days of trenches and jumping into the fray. They had spent countless nights and days huddled over this or that new invention that would keep her team safe.

But lately, she's noticed a pattern to her sketches and studies. He was looking worn. Talking of Maria or Tony, whenever she could get two words out of him, hurt him deeply. As did other things.

"There's a marathon of movies by Ginger Rogers on tonight. Wash up and we could catch Shall We Dance," she offered.

Comments

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

She gave him a look, trying to figure it out. Best ot ask. "You mean you had an actual pet snake?"

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. Luanne. She was a sweet little thing. Never did get as big as her species normally would, but she did learn how to hiss on command. She was pretty adorable. I'm a sucker for anything with big eyes." Fond memories.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

Steph went right back to her cuddle spot. "There was a stray Bucky and I fed sometimes that lived in the alley by our apartment."

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"I had a cat when I was a kid. Professor Whiskers. My father brought it home one night after he got smashed and we just never got rid of it." Fond...ish, memories, slightly tainted by the alcohol aspect of the story.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"You just have that habit of picking up strays, don't you, slick?" she teased. Steph closed her eyes and just let the moment happen as she curled against him. Before everything got hectic again.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"It runs in the family. Even Tony brought home a puppy. And by puppy I mean fully grown Great Dane." He smiles, but his face quickly falls. It's a common moment whenever he accidentally lets himself think about his son.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

Steph held him when his demeanor changed. She laced their fingers together as if to silently tell him she's there for him. She wasn't sure what to say in these situations, to assure Howard that Tony would've been a super kid? For now, she simply nuzzled him and kissed right over his actual heart.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

He can't help it. His first reaction to being kissed there is a flinch. Not helping, Steph. Really, really not helping.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

She noticed the flinch and let go, sitting up and stretching. "Maybe it's time to turn in for the night. Big morning tomorrow."

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"...right. Um. I'm just going to go wrap some things up in the lab..." God, he felt awkward. He really needed to get over this newfound sensitivity in his chest before it killed his love life.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"Right and I gotta...grab my...things and--" She awkwardly got up and hesitated. Quickly, Steph planted a kiss on his cheek. "Goodnight, Howard." With that, she scuttled off to gather her things and head back to her apartment.